PMR and Flu Vaccine

Posted by jed5 @jed5, Jul 30 9:42am

I contracted PMR October 2024, went through a very painful 2 months before getting it diagnosed in January 2025, and now successfully tapered off Prednisone after 6 months. My effected areas of hips, shoulders and neck while not painfully achey, they are not the same in terms of strength than before PMR. I have not ruled out that I contracted PMR from the flu vaccine I received in October 2024. Two questions:
1. Has anybody experienced post PMR body impacts such as tiredness or fatigue?
2. Do you get an annual flu vaccine?
John

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

mhcmshammes | @mhcmshammes | Aug 8 4:47pm

I also am suspicious of the flu and covid vaccines as my PMR started shortly after receiving them.

juliemcgee62 | @juliemcgee62 | Aug 9 11:50am

In reply to @mhcmshammes "I also am suspicious of the flu and covid vaccines as my PMR started shortly after..." + (show)

I got the Shingles vaccine and PMR started 9 days later..Prednisone made me eat
..so now Methotrexate..works great..

mhcmshammes | @mhcmshammes | Aug 9 2:22pm

In reply to @juliemcgee62 "I got the Shingles vaccine and PMR started 9 days later..Prednisone made me eat ..so now..." + (show)

A supplement I found after some research is L-Glutathione which has been very helpful along with major dietary changes.

spiritguided1 | @spiritguided1 | Aug 23 11:26am

Like you I am convinced it was the flu vaccine that messed up my immune system and gave me PMR. My rheumatologist asked me the question had I had the flu jab just prior to it , which I had and his words were “I have awaiting room full of people like you, but you would be a hard pressed to prove it,”he was convinced the flu jab had caused my PMR. Everyone that I know who has seen me in the way that I have been in with PMR will ever have the flu jab again.

Mike | @dadcue | Aug 23 12:47pm

In reply to @spiritguided1 "Like you I am convinced it was the flu vaccine that messed up my immune system..." + (show)

My rheumatologist has acknowledged a vaccine can cause a flare of PMR.

I have acknowledged that I don't have a flare every time I get a vaccine.

Now we need to analyze the circumstances in order to predict when and why a flare happens when we get a vaccine.

I don't think we can say vaccines cause PMR which somewhat implies we should never have a vaccine.

I agree with you that our immune systems are messed up. Not everyone has a messed up immune system which probably explains why the majority of people don't get PMR when they get vaccines.

Currently, I'm convinced there is no way to predict what my immune system might do next. My rheumtologist says my immune system is deranged and a vaccine occasionally deranges my immune system more than it already is.

kc8591 | @kc8591 | Aug 24 8:42am

John,
So impressed you were able to get off prednisone so quickly, very happy for you!
I’m down to 8.5 mgs after 1 year and 5 months since developing PMR. I’m feeling very fatigued now as I’m getting to the lower doses but in my gut I think the PMR may be gone, now the struggle is getting off the prednisone,
The fatigue has been prevalent ever since the beginning, and very bad at first.
I developed PMR after a very bad virus that took me almost a month to get through, as soon as I recovered I got PMR.
Previously had several Covid vaccines and flu vaccines.
Since I’ve only gotten one flu vaccine and debating to get the flu vaccine again this year.
The bottom line is if you’re susceptible to an auto immune disease, by heritage or by a screwed up immune system system, any vaccine or virus, or stressor can cause it, common sense and medical research will tell you this.
Wishing the best for everyone struggling with this awful disease that seems to affect everyone so differently.
I’ve gotten more help and good information from sites like this than my rheumatologist!!

Mike | @dadcue | Aug 24 9:27am

In reply to @kc8591 "John, So impressed you were able to get off prednisone so quickly, very happy for you!..." + (show)

"I’m feeling very fatigued now as I’m getting to the lower doses but in my gut I think the PMR may be gone, now the struggle is getting off the prednisone,"
--------------------
I went through this stage. Once I tactfully accused my rheumatologist of prescribing Prednisone to me because she thought it was what I wanted. I made it clear that I wanted to be off Prednisone. I was worried about adrenal insufficiency because of the overwhelming fatigue. I felt bad afterwards because my rheumatologist helped me so much and for so long. Fortunately, she didn't dismiss me and she was instrumental in helping me get off Prednisone a few years later. As it turned out ... adrenal insufficiency was part of my problem. I was somewhat dependent on Prednisone for a while but I managed to get past that stage too.

You are correct ... it was a struggle to taper off Prednisone after long term use.

jedhorovitz | @jedhorovitz | Aug 24 12:19pm

Wow. I am in remission and about to get a flu shot. This is scary. Has anyone else had this reaction to vaccines?

groksvaag | @groksvaag | Aug 24 1:23pm

I have had PMR since November. The pain started a couple of weeks after having Covid on a cross country national parks trip. Now on Kevzara and 10 mg per day prednisone. Doing pretty well. Taking a 35 day cruise to Europe starting in 10 days. Got both Covid and Flu boosters last week I believe risk of vaccination much less than risk of infections. Medical literature agrees.